Yoplait cups are a hazard to wild animals - they need to go!

Since 1978, when they first appeared on grocery store shelves, General Mills' Yoplait yogurt containers have been killing wildlife.

Tempted by the sweet smell, animals stick their heads inside the conical-shaped containers and they get stuck.

It's not so much the "vercon" shape of the cup or the size of the opening, but the thin lip, or flange, at the top.

How animals get stuck: The design of the cup allows an animal to force its head past the flexible rim, but when it tries to back out, the flange catches on the animal's hide, the back of its skull, or zygomatic arches (cheekbones).

Deprived of fresh air, unable to see, unable to eat or drink, these animals suffer tremendously before they perish, if not rescued in time.

Join us in asking General Mills to get rid of the flawed cup design that is killing animals.

HISTORY

This is no news to General Mills.

In August 1998, under pressure from animal activists, General Mills added this to the label: Protect Wildlife Crush CupBefore Disposal, placing responsibility for their hazardous packaging onto the consumer.

General Mills refused, however, to make the necessary changes to the flawed design, citing:

"That design is a key lure for customers, and changing it could harm sales," a spokesperson for General Mills said."